SOUTH AMERICA. 311 



at present are flowing down another channel. FOURTH 

 The rage in England for working the mines of- 

 other states has now risen to such a pitch, that 

 it would require a considerable degree of caution 

 in a mere wanderer of the woods, in stepping 

 forward to say any thing that might tend to 

 raise or depress the spirits of the speculators. 



A question or two, however, might be asked. 

 When the revolted colonies shall have repaired 

 in some measure the ravages of war, and settled 

 their own political economy upon a firm founda- 

 tion, will they quietly submit to see foreigners 

 carrying away those treasures which are abso- 

 lutely part of their own soil, and which necessity 

 (necessity has no law) forced them to barter away 

 in their hour of need ? Now, if it should so 

 happen that the masters of the country begin to 

 repent of their bargain, and become envious of 

 the riches which foreigners carry off, many a 

 teasing law might be made, and many a vexatious 

 enaction might be put in force, that would, in 

 all probability, bring the speculators into trouble 

 and disappointment. 



Besides this consideration, there is another 

 circumstance which ought not to be overlooked. 

 I allude to the change of masters nearly through- 

 out the whole of America. It is a curious 

 subject for the European philosopher to moralize 

 upon, and for the politician to examine. The 

 more they consider it, the more they will be 



